WHEREAS:

Important labor laws and social programs that protect and provide for working men, women and their families have been under attack by the 104th Congress -- laws and programs which make it possible for workers to balance their responsibilities as employees with their family responsibilities; and

WHEREAS:

Major cuts in education and job training programs will interfere with families' abilities to educate their children and for parents to continue their own education and training. Programs such as Head Start are being denied full funding in spite of a successful track record; and

WHEREAS:

Working families of all income levels need available and affordable quality child care. The Child Care and Development Block Grants (CCDBG) passed by Congress in 1990, provided federal funds to states to improve the availability and quality of child care. However, the Congressional leadership's proposed budget cuts would deny thousands of children child care assistance; and

WHEREAS:

Millions of children are subject to the cuts in Medicaid which pays for immunizations, check-ups, emergency room care, infant mortality services and wheelchairs for children with disabilities. Other important programs affecting millions of children, including child nutrition and energy assistance, are also under attack; and

WHEREAS:

Public sector employees are particularly vulnerable at this time since state government officials are lobbying Washington to exempt state and local governments from basic worker rights and protections. This includes, among other laws, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); and

WHEREAS:

The FMLA has proven to be an important first step to helping employees balance work and family life. The FMLA prevents employees from having to choose between their jobs and their families.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED:

That AFSCME considers education, job training, child care and Medicaid essential to working families' ability to provide a decent living for their families and provide the type of financial security to which all Americans are entitled; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME considers attempts to exempt state and local governments from the FMLA and other laws a direct attack on families who work for the public sector; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED:

That AFSCME opposes any attempt to weaken the provisions of the FMLA. AFSCME supports strengthening the FMLA by covering part-time employees and employees working for small employers and supports expanding FMLA to include paid leave; and

BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:

That AFSCME continue to oppose efforts to strip the American worker, particularly the public worker, of those protections which labor has fought so hard to achieve. AFSCME should continue to work towards the enactment of public policy in the area of work and family issues which ensures that all Americans have access to the same basic worker protections, making it possible for workers to balance their responsibilities as employees with their responsibilities to their families.

SUBMITTED BY:

Carolyn J. Holmes, Executive Director/President and Delegate
Shirley Menoken, Secretary
AFSCME Council 71
New Jersey